RURAL WALKS AND DRIVES IN NATURAL WOODED 

 SCENERY. 



Having reached the termination of what may be considered the " Dress 

 Ground," I scarcely need observe that a lengthened walk through wooded or 

 rural scenery would not only afford protection from the heat of the sun, or 

 shelter from boisterous winds, but would also afford stillness and quietude to 

 the contemplative mind whilst reflecting on Nature's beauties and Nature's 

 freaks, so beautifully expressed by our charming poet, Dodsley, who says — 



" Corne, then, ye shades, beneath your bending arms 

 Enclose the fond admirer of your charms ; 

 Come, then, ye bowers, receive your joyful guest, 

 Glad to retire, and in retirement blest ; 

 Come, ye fair flowers, and open every sweet; 

 Come, little birds, your warbling songs repeat; 

 And ! descend, to sweeten all the rest, 

 Soft smiling peace, in white-robed virtue dressed — 

 Content, unenvious ease, with freedom joined, 

 And contemplation calm, with truth refined. 

 Deign but in this fair scene with me to dwell, — 

 All noise and nonsense, pomp and show, farewell." 



Here, in our ramble, would also be observed the humble but odoriferous 

 violet, primrose, cowslip, anemone, campanula, hyacinth, and the lovely lily 

 of the valley, peeping out of their grassy beds; the indigenous rose, too, 

 would present itself reclining on some neighbouring bush, and the honey- 

 suckle reaching to entwine some loftier tree, filling the air with delicious 

 perfume ; whilst on every side the warblers of the woods would be swelling 

 out their sweet solos, or pouring forth in full chorus notes which never fail 

 to charm the ear and cheer the soul : sweet sounds ! harmonizing so well 

 with the idea of Omnipotence and Omnipresence ! How beautiful in their 



